Grave's Disease & Goiter
Grave's disease is a form of hyperthyroidism. The immune system attacks the thyroid, which causes the thyroid to produce excessive amounts of the hormone thyroxine. A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland commonly seen in patients with Grave's disease.
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Identification
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The symptoms of Grave's disease include bulging eyeballs, redness of the eyes, swelling of the eyelids, brittle hair, irritability, weight loss, goiter, sleep problems, anxiety and hand tremors.
Cause
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There is no known cause of Grave's disease.
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Expert Insight
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Grave's disease is diagnosed through a physical exam and tests. The doctor will look at the thyroid to see if it is enlarged, check the hands to see if they tremble, and determine if the eyes are bulging and irritated. To confirm the diagnosis, blood tests will be performed to measure levels of hormones associated with Grave's disease.
Prevention/Solution
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Treatment of Grave's is designed to decrease the amount of thyroxine produced by the thyroid. Drugs including anti-thyroid and beta-blockers stop the tremors and other symptoms associated with Grave's.
Radioactive Iodine Treatment
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Radioactive iodine treatment is used to reduce the size of the thyroid over time. The thyroid may be destroyed by radioactive iodine, and thyroid medication will need to be taken. Finally, surgery is an option for the patient who is not able to tolerate other treatments. Surgery involves removal of the thyroid gland.
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